Monday, August 31, 2009

Fall movies are just around the corner. For the most part I had a good summer at the movies. I still haven't gotten through the entire list of movies I hoped to see over the summer. In some cases movies (In the Loop, Adam, Paper Heart) are shown in limited release so it's more difficult to get to the movie theaters that are showing them. Here are my favorites from what I saw during summer 2009. What were your favorites?

Favorite Movie: (500) Days of Summer

At the beginning of the movie the narrator tells us, "This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story." Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) believes in love and Summer (Zooey Deschanel) does not; the movie jumps and skips to different days over the course of their relationship. A "rom-com" with a soul. Gordon-Levitt gives another wonderfully genuine performance.

Favorite Comedy: The Hangover

We see the aftermath of an out-of-control bachelor party in Las Vegas and then watch as the three friends Phil, Stu, and Alan (Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis) retrace their steps to find out what happened and how they lost the best man, Doug (Justin Bartha). Featuring a hilarious, stand-out performance from Galifianakis as Alan ("a lone wolf").

Best Music (1): (500) Days of Summer

I love everything about this movie, especially the way music is used. The characters do some karaoke and Tom (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) breaks out into a dance set to "You Make My Dreams" by Hall & Oates.

Best Music (2): Away We Go

This soundtrack is dominated by cuts from Alexi Murdoch. Murdoch's songs act as a perfect backdrop as main characters Burt (John Krasinski) and Verona (Maya Rudolph) travel to different cities looking for the perfect place to raise their child.

As James (Jim) Kirk, Pine sure knows how to push people's buttons. As a result, Pine is strangled again and again. This leaves audience members such as myself leaving the theater saying, "Hm. Chris Pine really has a nice neck, doesn't he?"

Cutest Dog: The Proposal

The little white puppy was almost taken away by an eagle; luckily eagles prefer cell phones to dogs.

Funniest Dog(s): Up

The dogs wear collars that allow people to hear their thoughts: "Squirrel!"

Best Wardrobe, Zooey Deschanel, (500) Days of Summer

Deschanel can rock a vintage dress like it's nobody's business.

Best Cameo: Bill Hader, Year One

While Mike Tyson showed up in The Hangover, Guy Pierce and Ralph Fiennes appeared in The Hurt Locker, and too many celebrities to count popped into Funny People, my favorite cameo was one that wasn't even in the movie itself but played over the credits. As a witch doctor in Year One, Bill Hader goes into his Daniel Plainview impression from There Will Be Blood: "I... am an oil man!" Hands down, best part of going to see Year One.

Best Chemistry (1): John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph, Away We Go

As a couple expecting their first child together, Krasinksi and Rudolph are magnificent. At one point Verona (Rudolph) tells Burt (Krasinski) he has to stop being so calm all the time so the baby's heart rate will rise; Burt then finds unique ways to accomplish this.

Best Chemistry (2): Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci, Julie & Julia

As Julia Child and Paul Child, Streep and Tucci are happy in love, full of life, and supportive of each other every step of the way.

Pushed Me All the Way to the Edge of My Seat: The Hurt Locker

In Iraq, Sergeant James joins the Bravo Company team that dismantles bombs. James (Jeremy Renner) knows no fear in the most extreme sense and his team members Sanborn and Eldridge don't think much of his reckless behavior. The team has 39 days left on its deployment; are they going to make it out of Iraq alive?

Most Under-Used Actor: Jonah Hill, Funny People

In Funny People struggling comic Ira (Seth Rogen) gets a gig writing jokes for big-time comedian George Simmons (Adam Sandler). The first part of the movie hilariously deals with the life of a stand-up comedian (featuring young comics played by Jonah Hill and Aubrey Plaza). But the last part feels like we are under house arrest with Sandler and Rogen as Sandler hopes to win back ex-girlfriend Leslie Mann from her husband (Eric Bana). This section was quite devoid of laughs and dragged on forever; I needed more Jonah Hill!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

My favorite movie of the summer, and possibly the year, has an equally awesome soundtrack, with songs from The Smiths, Carla Bruni, Feist, She & Him, Regina Spektor, and... Hall & Oates (among others). The jubilant dance sequence set to Hall & Oates' "You Make My Dreams" is so memorable; if you've seen the movie you'll be happy to have it on the soundtrack, too.

New Moon trailer

So you're on Team Edward? I thought I was, too, until I saw the photos and trailers released for The Twilight Saga: New Moon, in which Taylor Lautner's role as Jacob is much increased. In this movie Edward abandons Bella alone in the woods, telling her he must never see her again. What a jerky thing to do! Oh sure, he thinks doing this will help protect her (Edward's a vampire, he hangs with vampires, etc.), but the separation drives Bella to have an emotional breakdown. It makes sense for me to want to switch to Team Jacob. After all, it's Jacob's strong friendship that helps pull Bella out of her depression. The website address for the new Twilight film says it all: GoTeamJacob.com

The Tudors (on DVD; also available on Showtime OnDemand)

I think many of the performances are profusely over-acted but I still keep coming back for more of this TV series about the reign of King Henry VIII of England (played by Irish actor Jonathan Rhys-Meyers). It's also interesting to see a part-factual, part-fictional interpretation of such an imposing historical figure's life. The period costumes are very beautiful (oh, to be a lady-in-waiting!). Above all I enjoy watching the Duke of Suffolk, Charles Brandon, played by Henry Cavill. Intense and crush-worthy!

The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro

It's been slow-going for me to get through this 535-page novel. The main character, Mr. Ryder, arrives in a town to give a piano concert, and everyone has been waiting for him. His itinerary is booked to the max and people are pulling him every which way. So these are all strangers, people he's never met, right? At first this seems to be the case; however, as he meets and talks with people he has hazy memories of past conversations he's had with them, and they bring up things from his history. Characters speak in long chunks of dialogue, sometimes to a hilarious effect. For example, when Mr. Ryder arrives at his hotel at the beginning of the book, the porter loquaciously reports why he prefers to carry the luggage while waiting in the elevator instead of placing the bags down on the floor. I'm a third of the way into reading The Unconsoled and I'm still trying to figure things out. Ishiguro's writing-style is so different from anything else I've read, and that's the way I like it.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Question: What did Cary Grant, Jack Lemmon, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, and Danny Thomas all have in common? Answer: Their tailor. His name is Jack Taylor, and he's been doing his thing for over sixty years. The 2007 documentary Jack Taylor of Beverly Hills offers a fascinating and relaxed view of this master craftsman, whose Rolodex reads like a who's-who of Hollywood's most fashionable leading men. If you're interested in men's fashion, American success stories, Hollywood glamor, or just want to be reminded of a time when men dressed up before leaving the house, this one is not to be missed.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

If you are a fan of comedies, you know 32-year-old Danny McBride. He co-starred in this summer's Land of the Lost along with Will Ferrell. Here is a list of what I think is his best work that you can place on hold from our library.

Eastbound & Down (2009) Not rated (adult content and language)

"I'm not going to stop yelling because that would mean I lost the fight!"

Drugs and booze have forced former major league pitcher Kenny Powers (McBride) out of the game (and out of shape). He now works as a gym teacher at a junior high and lives with his brother, sister-in-law, and nephews. Powers still itches to get back into the major leagues and is sure his current situation living in the suburbs is only temporary. McBride plays Powers as crass, rude, and unbelievably self-important. Surprisingly, you still end up rooting for him in this HBO TV series.

In this movie, a film crew is in Vietnam shooting a war movie. When the actors are attacked by local drug lords and Tugg Speedman (Ben Stiller) is kidnapped, everyone wrongly believes the commotion is part of the film shoot. McBride plays Cody, a special effects crew member who is good at blowing things up.

Co-written by McBride, this indie got the attention of comedy giant Will Ferrell. McBride plays a tae kwon do instructor named Fred Simmons. Simmons' personal life is falling apart and he dreams of meeting his idol, Chuck "The Truck" Williams.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

John Hughes - director/screenwriter/producer - brought us such generation-defining films as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Born in Lansing, MI, Hughes moved to Illinois with his family at age thirteen, and his new home would provide the setting for many of his films. While he will best be remembered as the laureate of suburban teens everywhere, John Hughes had his hands in a number of comedy and family films that left an indelible imprint on American popular culture (such as Uncle Buck and the Home Alone series).

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Funk, soul, and R&B music has long formed the back beat for Hip-Hop, and Hip-Hop music has been both revered and denigrated for its extensive reliance on "sampling." While producers like Dr. Dre, RZA, and Madlib have elevated sampling to a uniquely modern art form, it's also argued that many mainstream hip-hop artists have relied too heavily on borrowed choruses and grooves. What often gets overlooked in this debate is the inherent quality of the original recordings themselves. For a closer look at what's going on in the background of your favorite hip-hop tracks, check out these discs:

Blue Break Beats, Vol. 1Find it in the catalog!A compilation of jazz/funk songs originally released on the legendary Blue Note Label. All these tracks have been heavily sampled, often with great success. What's undeniable is that the songs themselves are plenty soulful in their own right.

Shades of Blue: Madlib Invades Blue NoteFind it in the catalog!Another one from the Blue Note Label, this is a collection of remixes and reinterpretations of the classic Blue Note sound by MC/producer Madlib. This disc works as a great companion to the Blue Break Beats CD. For those who don't know: Madlib, who records and produces under a host of aliases, is one of the most vital and innovative figures in contemporary hip-hop.

Shaolin Soul: Classic Soul Sounds That Inspired the Wu-Tang ClanFind it in the catalog!All the songs on this compilation have either been sampled on a Wu-Tang Clan record or a Wu-Tang member's solo album, such as Method Man, GZA and ODB. The insightful liner notes by "Monk" Mason are a real treat.

What it is! Funky Soul and Rare GroovesFind it in the catalog!This 4-Disc box-set is the motherlode. Ranging from established soul classics to long-forgotten gems, this 91 track compilation is an embarassment of riches. Many of these songs have been extensivley sampled, and some of them can only be found here.

Follow the links below to place a hold on any of these new DVD releases!

Adventureland (R)

Before going off to college, a group of teenagers work at an amusement park during the summer of 1987. Part drama, part comedy, this is one to check out if you missed it in the theaters. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Martin Starr, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Ryan Reynolds

"Are you playing me?" Julia Roberts and Clive Owen have great chemistry in this romantic caper as two double agents looking to procure a secret formula that's sure to yield a big pay-day from any number of heavy-hitting companies. Whose side is each on, though?

Monday, August 24, 2009

Legendary Hollywood director Billy Wilder (1906-2002) worked in various genres throughout his long career. His 1944 crime picture Double Indemnity was a milestone that in many ways still sets the standard for today's murder mysteries and crime melodramas. But, without question, the director's truest affinity was for comedy.

The Billy Wilder Film Collection includes three stone-cold comedy classics (Some Like It Hot, The Apartment, The Fortune Cookie) and one amusing curio (Kiss Me, Stupid!).

Some Like It Hot (1959) is a classic screwball comedy, justly revered for its gender-bending premise and superb ensemble performances. Marilyn Monroe proves herself to be an adept comedienne as chanteuse Sugar Kane, Tony Curtis is great fun as a jazz saxophonist/lothario, and Jack Lemmon steals the show as an "everyman" whose reluctant female impersonation blossoms into a joyous celebration. The last line in the film, delivered by comedian/actor Joe E. Brown, is often cited as one of the greatest lines in Hollywood history.

The Apartment (1960) is a rare gem; a film of genuine pathos that never fails to deliver the laughs. Nearly fifty years after its initial release, this one still speaks to us. Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine are brilliant in their respective roles, bringing a sense of tenderness and vulnerability that is timeless. Tagline: "Movie-wise, there has never been anything like The Apartment...laugh-wise, love-wise or otherwise-wise!"

Billy Wilder's The Fortune Cookie (1966) was the first pairing of Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, one of the great comedic duos in film history. Matthau's role as a morally bankrupt personal injury attorney is easily one of the highlights of this legendary actor's career. Without being polemical or overly-talky, this film manages to make insightful comments on such weighty issues as morality, race-relations, fidelity, and...in-laws!

Kiss Me, Stupid! (1964) is the one film in the set that feels somewhat dated, due to its then-topical examination of the swinger lifestyle. But Dean Martin's self-parodic performance as "Dino" is admirably scathing, and Ray Walston's role as a Beethoven-obsessed paranoiac is reason enough to check this one out. And, as in any Billy Wilder film, there is no shortage of memorable dialogue.

If you are interesting in food shows featuring celebrity chefs/cooks like Julia Child, Paula Deen, or Rachael Ray, or movies related to food and cooking, here is a list of materials you can place on hold through Dundee that you may want to check out.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

We have just over four months left in this decade, so that means it must be time to look back and reminisce about the past ten years. Pitchfork Media has released a list of the Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s, and the number one spot belongs to OutKast's "B.O.B." Check the list out for yourself: Pitchfork's Top 500 Tracks of the 2000s

I will admit that I have not heard of some of the artists or bands included in the list. I'm going to look up the ones I don't know and maybe I'll discover some new music. As for what I would include in my personal Best of the 2000s list, I just tried to think of songs released during the 2000s that have strong connections to different points in my life. As a result my song picks may not be the "coolest" choices, and that's fine by me.

Friday, August 21, 2009

This is the group's third album, and it's another good one. I find that I always can listen to a Franz Ferdinand CD from the first to last track without wanting to skip over songs. To me many of the songs they've released in the past have been very easy to dance to ("Take Me Out," "This Fire," "You Could Have it Much Better"), and on this album the band goes even further; "Lucid Dreams" ends with a couple minutes of trance-like music.

Tonight begins with the fast-paced, danceable "Ulysses" and then continues with high-energy songs like "Turn It On" and "No You Girls." The end of the album mellows like the hushed epilogue of a night of partying, finishing with the quiet, stripped down "Katherine Kiss Me," which reworks the lyrics of "No You Girls."

I have plenty of favorites from Tonight. My favorite song to turn the volume up to, though, just might be "Bite Hard." Lead singer Alex Kapranos starts out singing so quietly it's difficult to hear the words. After he sings "you don't know the pseudonyms I assume / for you" the song and bass-line really kick in, and I always find myself singing along with "are you happier now / that the gods are dying?"

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Gazing at the rain, I consider what it means to belong, to become part of something. To have someone cry for me. From someplace distant, so very distant. From, ultimately, a dream. No matter how far I reach out, no matter how fast I run, I'll never make it.

Why would anyone want to cry for me?

--Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami is a very unique author to read. I never know what to expect while reading his books or short stories, and that's a good thing. Murakami's method of combining interesting characters, metaphysical elements, memorable dialogue, music, food, and pop culture references first got me hooked two years ago. I started out by reading After Dark and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Here is a brief description of the Murakami titles we have in audio format:

After the Quake

The earthquake referred to in the title is the 1995 earthquake that occurred in Kobe, Japan. The stories in this collection are Murakami's interpretation of the earthquake's effects on people in Japan. Shorter than his other collections like Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman orThe Elephant Vanishes, After the Quake includes six stories.

This book follows two characters, Kafka and Nakata. Kafka is a teenager who runs away from home and sets up to live in a library. Nakata is an old man looking for an entrance stone. Their stories are eventually weaved together by the end after following different paths and meeting some colorful people (and animals).

The first time I read this book I couldn't put it down because of how completely absorbed in the plot I became. The story starts out with a married man, unemployed at home, and a lost cat. His wife leaves and he explores the city looking for the cat. I know, it sounds really simple, but Murakami always lures you in with a simple beginning and then catapults you off from there toward deeper questions.

Monday, August 17, 2009

The Swedish trio of Peter Bjorn and John follow their 2007 release Writer's Block with Living Thing. In a change of pace from their previous album, these songs definitely have intense beats behind them, particularly "Nothing to Worry About." My favorite song is "Blue Period Picasso," which is told from the point of view of a Picasso painting "stuck on a wall in the middle of a hall in Barcelona / trying to figure out how to get down 'cause this solitude is bringing me down." In June when I was in Barcelona I visited the Picasso Museum and I sang this song to myself in my head while looking at the paintings. It's that awesome.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Okay, I don't actually love every foreign film I watch; I needed a catchy title. I have picked out three foreign films that are pretty darn wonderful and that I think you should try out. These are ones I've recently seen and they all just happen to be in French. Don't let the subtitles put you off from seeing a great film.

Tell No One (Ne le disà personne)

(French)

Based on the book by Harlen Coben, this was one of my top 5 movies I saw in 2008. Margot, the wife of pediatrician Alex Beck, was murdered eight years ago. After some new evidence is unearthed, Alex is once again questioned about the murder. Then he receives emails from a person claiming to be his wife... is she still alive? Suspenseful, emotional, heart-pounding, and smart, you'll want to watch Tell No One more than once.

Kristin Scott Thomas gives an excellent performance as Juliette, who is trying to re-enter society after being in jail for fifteen years. We don't find out her crime until later in the film, and I won't mention what it is here. Her parents disowned her and started to tell everyone they only had one daughter when Juliette went to prison. Juliette's sister, Lea, allows her to come and live with her family, but the husband is worried and hesitant about Juliette being in the house with the kids. Juliette works toward securing a job and new friends, but her past still haunts her. Will she be able to continue with her life?

This movie was just released on DVD this week. Set in a high school classroom (entre les murs = between the walls) in Paris, France, and shot documentary style it stars teacher François Bégaudeau and regular teenagers from many ethnic backgrounds. It feels like we are peeking inside a classroom; we see the difficulties teachers must face in dealing with rowdy, uninspired students. We even see the teachers break down in the faculty lounge. At one point, though, François sees his students come alive while they work on their autobiographies on the computers. It seems he finally is getting through to the unmotivated students... at least for the time being. This is a movie that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

One of my favorite movies of the year, I Love You, Man, is released on DVD this week. When I saw this movie in the theater I laughed so hard I cried. Peter (Paul Rudd) is recently engaged and realizes he has no close friends to be his best man. In the process of trying to meet guy friends he meets Sydney (Jason Segel) and a "bromance" develops as they bond over the music of Rush. Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall) is one of my favorite actors. He is goofy and does not hold back at all in his performances. As Peter, Paul Rudd is a riot when he tries too hard to fit in with the guys; usually he says or does embarrassing things (see: the scene where he first calls Sydney and leaves a message on his phone; any of the times he attempts to give Sydney a nickname). A worthwhile comedy to watch? Totes, my goats!

Monday, August 10, 2009

There's less than a week until the premiere of the third season of Mad Men on AMC (9 PM!). One creative way to tide yourself over until then is to visit madmenyourself.com where you can create a Mad Men avatar for yourself to use on facebook, myspace, etc. Or you can use your Mad Men scene as your desktop wallpaper. Just to name a few of the options available: You can pick your hair color, nose shape, eyebrow shape, accessories, and outfit. When I went through the options for accessories I chose a white handbag to go along with my blouse and skirt. And a doughnut.

The Kooks, from Brighton, England, are one of my favorite bands. I first got into the Kooks when I heard "She Moves in Her Own Way," from their first album Inside In/Inside Out, on Virgin radio. I describe the Kooks as a Brit pop/rock band; whenever I put on their CDs I get a jolt of energy because most of their songs are uptempo. While I think all the tracks on this album are strong I especially love listening to "Tick of Time," which sounds like we're cutting in on a jam session. A few seconds into it the band members stop singing and start laughing. After a few strokes of the guitar the band starts in on the song itself, which I believe is recorded in one take. I just have so much fun singing along to that song. Check out Konk or Inside In/Inside Out and see if you get hooked on the Kooks like I did!